Happy January 2nd Everyone!
I hope all of you had a wonderful first day of the New Year. At Lane’s End, we had a great time and our birthday celebration was FABULOUS! P.Q. and I teased each other that we did not look a whole year older…maybe a DAY, but certainly not a YEAR. Too cute!
In this photo, I’m enjoying a bit of fun with a friend’s 2 boys. Great way to celebrate the holiday season! To quote their Mom…”Zenyatta is the sweetest mare ever!” So kind of her to say! I do love children…as you can see…and ALL people for that matter.
Here, I’m back indoors after paddock time…but as you know, I spend a great deal of time outside each day. Recently, Jahlgren asked about ‘my winter coat’. I had made a reference to ‘growing one’ in a previous Diary.
Horses’ coats do grow in the winter weather. What happens is the hair becomes thicker. It is part of nature. Now that I am in Kentucky, this is nature’s way to help me feel more comfortable in this colder climate. This also helps me to be happy and healthy while outdoors.
Often, at the race track, you may see a horse who is ‘CLIPPED’. This means that the horse did get a haircut. There are special people who work at the track who have a job ‘clipping horses’. The cost of this varies depending on what type of clipping style is requested. In CA, prices range from approximately $100-120 per horse. It varies. This is a baseline.
Basically, there are 2 reasons to CLIP a horse. ONE…in the winter, if the horse’s hair gets too thick, it can allow a great deal of mud/dirt to stick to the underneath portion of the body. The horse can then become more difficult to groom. If this is the case, you may want to clip him. SECONDLY, in the spring, when the winter coat is still a bit too thick and causing the horse to ‘sweat too much’ during exercise, you may also want to clip the horse. It all depends on the individual horse, the thickness of the hair, and the climate and training conditions.
Some trainers do a partial clipping (also called TRACE CLIPPING) on the ‘bottom/underneath part’ of the horse’s body. When you see this type of clipping on a horse…it looks like he/she has a design or pattern outlined on the body.
Other trainers may want their horse to have a full body clip…meaning all over the body.
Then some horses don’t need to be clipped. During the winter, they do not grow a great deal of thick hair. This varies per horse…just like humans have different types of hair.
As a result, if the hair does not get to be too thick, the groom is able to keep the coat looking good. THIS WAS ME! While at Barn 55, I never grew a very thick coat, and my dear MARIO groomed me perfectly all of the time. Per John, he used ‘good old-fashioned elbow grease’ to keep my coat looking slick and fabulous! Also, I was a horse with great inner health which helped.
Now that I am outside quite a bit in a colder climate, my hair is getting a bit thicker. Being able to grow a ‘winter coat’ with my dapples and all still there…is a very good thing for me!
Stay warm and enjoy your day!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Cheryl Smith
You are such a sweet sweet girl!
Emily
Are they really breeding her to Indian Charlie?
Mary Jane
What a wonderful photo! And great information for anyone wanting to know more about horses. Spent the past two days clipping my two. Happy New Year and birthday Z – wishing you many more. Tell us more about your pasture mate. How long has PQ been at Lane’s End?
Kathy
HAPPY NEW YEAR to THE ZEN GODDESS. Whenever I have a bad day I just watch the DVD of your races and it puts a smile on my face. “happy trails to you until
we meet again”.
Zen-Fan
HI beautiful girl! Yes, you always look “picture perfect!” Thanks for the info…Hope you are out enjoying time in the fresh Kentucky air…I also think it is great that you are making new friends!
XOXO
Helen
Good morning Zenny! I am so glad you are still keeping us all in the loop and so nice of you to inform others that have no idea of what keeping a horse is like. Now let me agree with a post above regarding A.P. Indy…I so agree with the idea of you and him getting together. I think you two could produce perhaps a very much needed and wanted triple crown winner. Your foal by whatever stud should by all means go into the hands of John for training and Mario for grooming! They did such a marvelous job with you. Not many trainers out there that I trust anymore.
I hope your birthday was a wonderful day for you! The picture with you and the kids is just fabulous!
Think of you alot!
Oh, I got a Zenny T-shirt for Christmas and trying to order a necklace from Mike but having trouble with Paypal. I will keep trying.
With big hugs and peppermint kisses!
Helen
cheryl
Any news on who you will be bred to? Do you have any prefernces? Also no news yet on when your fans can come see you, can you pull some strings for us?
Love you
Trish & Mike in Colorado
We never saw a horse who looked as healthy or shiny or gorgeous as Zenyatta . . . you looked like your coat was a mirror. Mario did such a wonderful job with you, Zenyatta.
Jean Moore
Beautiful Zenyatta, The photo of you with your two friends is absolutely precious. Are you sure you are not a human in horse clothing? I have never seen such expressions as you exhibit, all of them beautiful, but different, depending on the situation. You amaze me you wonderful girl. Thank Dottie for another most informative Diary post. MUCH LOVE FROM ME TO YOU.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Dear Zenyatta: The two boys and you. How regal you look and how loving and trusting the little boy looks who kisses you. Too young to wonder why he should be looking up to a nonhuman animal. There is more literature coming out all the time about the importance of animals to children (a wonderful book is “Why The Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children”).
I would give a lot to be that little boy giving and receiving a kiss. But, I’ve come to believe that you deserve privacy, now that you are retired, especially because you will be having a foal in the not so distant future. Friends of your CA Team Z and KY Team Z of course would have the privilege of meeting you. As for your fans, it seems appropriate that our time has passed together with the end of your racing career. So many people love you, thousands.
In the video when you first ran free, you “danced” when Charles put you back on the lead line, just as you used to at the racetrack. It seemed that running got you excited the way you had been at the track, and you expressed that excited energy by prancing again. I am concerned that crowds of people, even if carefully numbered and monitored, would similarly remind you of the track.
In my mind, you deserve to be with other horses (as you’ve begun to with P.Q.), and to be allowed to live as a horse, with occasional visits from people connected to your dual family.
Much love and respect–Robbie
judith berube
Dear Z,
I was wondering if there are any photos or videos of you as a foal with your mother, Vertigineux. Also, if there are any of you as a yearling or younster in training. It would be great to see them. Love you.
judy berube
nancy
What a nice photo, just too cute. I know all too well about winter coats and horses, when I had my horse and pony the grew theres thick, I’m so glad you are getting one. And I’m sharing a bit of snow with you today, it snow all night here in Mojave Ca, I love it. I had to laugh at the news they act like it never happens here in SOCAL, ya it does. Look forward to some more vids of you Z, your so speical to all of us. I hope everyone that are fans that live near you will get to see you sometime soon, then they will experince what we have in CA. The photo just shows how you are a kind horse. Have a good day sweet Z.
Linda / NJ
To Robbie:
I really, really hope Team Z doesn’t agree with you. Zenyatta loves people and seems to enjoy the visits with us fans.
Pattie from South Carolina
Thank you Dottie for all the updates on Zenyatta’s Diary. You are doing an AWESOME job explaining the life of a race horse. So many people never have the opportunity to get close to a horse. Zenyatta’s Diary is a wonderful way to share the love of horses and America’s Queen!! Happy New Year :)
Linda / NJ
Dear Zenyatta and Dottie: Just another thought on the photo of the 2 boys–can you imagine how excited they were to show all their little friends the photo of them with the famous racehorse: Zenyatta. Zenyatta, your site must have gotten a lot of hits today.
Patricia M
Zenny, you should be – seriously – an official ambassador for the world of horsing – you and your family have done so much to educate all of us and to promote love, understanding and appreciation for horses. I am sure you have all done more than we know to help disadvantaged and mistreated horses.
And being the queen, you shouldn’t need to travel from your domain in Kentucky- you reach so many by modern technology!
Love you, you are the sweetest girl!
livey
@Patricia
Z is the “ambassador for the world of horsing.” :) Spread the word for those unfamiliar with our beautiful Z. She is an example of how a (race) horse should be cared for a loved… by her owners, trainers and Mario ;)
jahlgren
Zenyatta & Dottie, Thank you for the great explanation about a horse’s “coat” and clipping! It also explains why I’ve seen some horses on the track with what I can only call “weird” or patterned haircuts, LOL. Very interesting! Lotsa love, Jan Ahlgren
Tom
Can you do your foot dance for me?
Sally
Hi Z!! Such a adorable picture on this post. How do I love thee; let me count the ways. Well, that photo is just one of them! You are so sweet and gentle. I hope when the stallion is chosen to be your mate, that he will have that gentle quality such as AP Indy seems to have. I was with him.(Just a thought) I know there is a lot of background check so to speak before your owners make a “big” decision, and they will be thinking of you!! My wish is for you to stay happy, healthy and have a healthy foal and to see you and finally tell you that you are the greatest mare race horse in my lifetime, and give you a kiss on your soft nose. Stay warm sweetie. Love you
Crystal R. Hollands
Team Zenyatta…..Please DO SOMETHING TO GET THE VOTERS TO HEAR FROM ZENYATTA BEFORE VOTING FOR HORSE OF THE YEAR.
Claiborne and Seth Hancock has pummelled HRTV with their advertisements about Blame beating Zenyatta….
You all are such classy people….but please do not let the CLAIBORNE EAST COAST BULLIES advertise for Horse of the Year without a comeback from the ZENYATTA SUPPORTERS…..
PLEASE….SHE MUST BE HORSE OF THE YEAR
sue g
Beautiful picture! Looks like a modern day Rockwell. Priceless, the boy look up, Zenyatta looking down and what looks like a soft kiss. And the other boy stroking Z almost with a knowing….
Z will be a beautiful mother, there is such a softness to her, IMHO, this only comes with intelligence. I read in a past interview with Mario how Z would stand looking up at the sky watching a plane fly over as if ‘thinking and studying this object.’ I pray our Z stays happy healthy and loved. I cannot formulate into words but there is something truly amazing about this horse.
Maria
I learn something new everytime I read your post. Thank you for the infos. You look sooo adorable in that picture with those two boys. I love you Queen Z.
Judy Huffmna
Happy New Year Zenyatta!!! Hope it is a very good one for you.
I enjoy reading about you and your family and care givers. It’s true your are very special and everyone loves you. It is a joy to see you so gentle and loving with everyone you see.
Kentucky is very lucky to have you staying there and I hope I can come and see you in person. It is very cold in Wisconsin with lots of snow. You have less to get accustomed to. Also there is less ice to walk on and hopefully your never slip and fall. I’m sure your care takers wouldn’t let you out in icy conditions.
I enjoyed your comments about coat growth in the winter and clipping of some horses I’ve seen.
You are beautiful,special and very charismatic. I wish I could hug you and show you how much I love you.
Judy
Robyn Mullhausen
Awwww. The photo of you with the kids is precious, shows your “Motherly” side. You will be a great Mom, Z. I can still see your beautiful dapples through the heavier coat. You look good in “fur”, my Dahling. ;)